So it is very unlikely for it to be approved, and if approved, it would not be possible in the current protocol (2.4.x).

Something which is possible in 2.4.x via plug-in, would be something similar to HitPoints by Theme97 or Wolverine by Strakowski.
However this faces the part of very low lag and jitter being a requirement, since otherwise the part of players 'receiving' flags will take too long and flags 'may' not be received by players due to high jitter or lag. (There has been issues with flag zapping, so this is one thing to be aware of.)

Note: My blog page which was linked, is in reference to a client modification and not a plug-in.

In the meantime as I wait for someone to write the code, I am brain storming of how that should be done.

This sounds somewhat impolite, as very rarely someone will simply write the code for you.

The idea you are suggesting, would be perhaps best implemented as a client/server modification.
The 'BZ_PROTO_VERSION' in 'src/date/buildDate.cxx', would have to be modified to make it incompatible with existing and future versions/servers.
The '_endShotDetection' variable and system would need some changes and would be rather 'easy' to 'hack' in, but tricky to implement as a proper mode.

I'm somewhat busy at the moment with current projects and requests, but would be able help create either a plug-in or the client/server modifications needed at a later time.
At the moment, I would be able to offer some guidance on where to look and what to do as well, if that alternative is viable.

-Zehra

Those who are critical of me, I'll likely be the same of them. ~ZehraThere's always something to remember and it's been a game I love. ~ZehraThe time spent is a time which can never be regained, so it's a time to enjoy. ~ZehraThe decisions we make are the ones we look forward too and the ones we regret. ~ZehraThere's a difference between knowing my name and knowing me, one shows respect to my name and the other is to who I am. ~Zehra

Why would you even want that? If you want to balance or imbalance flag potency, you can do it already by adjusting server variables respective to the flags in question and keeping the idea of a single shot killing a tank.

Why would you even want that? If you want to balance or imbalance flag potency, you can do it already by adjusting server variables respective to the flags in question and keeping the idea of a single shot killing a tank.

Because there are games you do not kill the other player's tank with a single shot with all weapons types. While not the best example in the world, but for example: bos wars

While I know at start, no - For this new protocol would there more players?

We either will have the same at best, but normally it will be a lesser number of players.
This will not draw in new players, but offers current players the ability to see some slightly different game play.

Why would you even want that? If you want to balance or imbalance flag potency, you can do it already by adjusting server variables respective to the flags in question and keeping the idea of a single shot killing a tank.

The goal isn't really to alter the potency or effects, but mostly the game play, as now shots aren't 'single hit' kills.
A good amount of the games have some sort of 'health' limit, and that is what is trying to be done.

-Zehra

Those who are critical of me, I'll likely be the same of them. ~ZehraThere's always something to remember and it's been a game I love. ~ZehraThe time spent is a time which can never be regained, so it's a time to enjoy. ~ZehraThe decisions we make are the ones we look forward too and the ones we regret. ~ZehraThere's a difference between knowing my name and knowing me, one shows respect to my name and the other is to who I am. ~Zehra

I understand the idea, but I do not comprehend why exactly it is needed. A single shot killing a tank is one of the fundamentals of bz. Entire tactics are built around that one fact. It is the core of the game.

Some flags having 'more power' than others can be simulated in other ways already, mainly through adjusting of server variables. All in all, bz is a game of positioning and timing, and while I am all up for variety, I do not see any real bz-based benefit from this idea, especially since no concrete example of usage was used.

A single shot killing a tank is one of the fundamentals of bz. Entire tactics are built around that one fact. It is the core of the game.

The fundamentals do not mean design decision.
The part of tactics being the logic behind that would have prevented the API from existing in the first place.
It is not really the 'core' of the game as well, but rather a design decision.
The threads I provided should show this.

All in all, bz is a game of positioning and timing, and while I am all up for variety, I do not see any real bz-based benefit from this idea, especially since no concrete example of usage was used.

From almost every first person shooter available, there is different weapons classes, different weapons types, only types (flags) exist in BZFlag and this prevents quite a few ideas from being made and the part of 'instant' death on hit creates a lot of issues when trying to implement quite a few other modes.

-Zehra

Those who are critical of me, I'll likely be the same of them. ~ZehraThere's always something to remember and it's been a game I love. ~ZehraThe time spent is a time which can never be regained, so it's a time to enjoy. ~ZehraThe decisions we make are the ones we look forward too and the ones we regret. ~ZehraThere's a difference between knowing my name and knowing me, one shows respect to my name and the other is to who I am. ~Zehra

For questions one and three:
As there would be no modifications to the authentication code, it should run with the current list and authentication server.
For having it listed/authenticated, would require project permission and approval although.

Those who are critical of me, I'll likely be the same of them. ~ZehraThere's always something to remember and it's been a game I love. ~ZehraThe time spent is a time which can never be regained, so it's a time to enjoy. ~ZehraThe decisions we make are the ones we look forward too and the ones we regret. ~ZehraThere's a difference between knowing my name and knowing me, one shows respect to my name and the other is to who I am. ~Zehra

As it's been mentioned in the thread, BZFlag's game design is, one shot (that hits) = kill. This isn't something I see us wanting to change as it doesn't align with the game's vision for the future.

A change like this would need to happen both in the client and server code, which means not only will you need to run a custom server, you'll need to get players to download your custom client that will only work with your modified server. Essentially, you're forking BZFlag

The part of the game design was one reason I did not expect the project to implement it as an official mode, in term the reason for my offering of implementing it either as a plug-in or client/server modification when I would have the time to implement it.

As probably most expect, this mode would very likely would interest only a small number of players, for which either binaries or instructions for the modifications would be provided and would probably be only for a one time event.
Thanks allejo, for clarifying the point that the project itself would not be involved and that anyone interested in this would have to download the appropriate binaries or preform the modifications to the source themselves.

-Zehra

Those who are critical of me, I'll likely be the same of them. ~ZehraThere's always something to remember and it's been a game I love. ~ZehraThe time spent is a time which can never be regained, so it's a time to enjoy. ~ZehraThe decisions we make are the ones we look forward too and the ones we regret. ~ZehraThere's a difference between knowing my name and knowing me, one shows respect to my name and the other is to who I am. ~Zehra

1. The tutorial is for 2.x, so it would not work for 2.4.x, but some things can still be referenced from it.
2. I'm assuming four characters followed by four digits.(Information should be within the protocol itself.)
3. Depends on a number of factors.
4. A simple fork is easy and even trivial, but having a fork which is modified will vary on the amount of modifications, the quality of them, the updating of them...etc (So there is no precise answer to this.)

-Zehra

Those who are critical of me, I'll likely be the same of them. ~ZehraThere's always something to remember and it's been a game I love. ~ZehraThe time spent is a time which can never be regained, so it's a time to enjoy. ~ZehraThe decisions we make are the ones we look forward too and the ones we regret. ~ZehraThere's a difference between knowing my name and knowing me, one shows respect to my name and the other is to who I am. ~Zehra

1. The tutorial is for 2.x, so it would not work for 2.4.x, but some things can still be referenced from it.
2. I'm assuming it would be four and is likely hard coded.
3. Depends on a number of factors.
4. A simple fork is easy and even trivial, but having a fork which is modified will vary on the amount of modifications, the quality of them, the updating of them...etc (So there is no precise answer to this.)

-Zehra

#1

a) Like what?

b) Is there a tutorial for 2.4.x?

c) If not to my last question, is there going to be one anytime soon?

#2 Seems to be 8 with two pairs of 4.

#3 Like what? If you do not know the answer at this time to my question that I asked, that is fine - I will wait for the answer. Plus the only coding if anything that I do on my own is for example HTML.

1.
A. References to changes made and files used.
B. Nope, but we do have the Private List Server with BZFS 2.4.x thread.
C. Unless someone does it, but this is not too likely at the moment.

3.
Most likely yes, unless the project says no for whatever reason.

Personally, I think doing so much for a game play modification is a bit too much.
I'm not sure if you are aware of this, but a server does not require authentication to run, if that is your concern.

-Zehra

Those who are critical of me, I'll likely be the same of them. ~ZehraThere's always something to remember and it's been a game I love. ~ZehraThe time spent is a time which can never be regained, so it's a time to enjoy. ~ZehraThe decisions we make are the ones we look forward too and the ones we regret. ~ZehraThere's a difference between knowing my name and knowing me, one shows respect to my name and the other is to who I am. ~Zehra

As long as the fork doesn't deviate from the list server format, you could continue to use the BZFlag server list. The protocol string should be 4 uppercase letters and 4 numbers. This change also would not be particularly difficult to implement.

"In addition to knowing the secrets of the Universe, I can assure you that I am also quite potty trained." -Koenma (Yu Yu Hakusho)

In my Sahara Desert Warfare map at BRL.ARPA.NET:5154, players always spawn on a platform with an ample supply of Shield flags. Grabbing one before dropping onto the battlefield ensures that it takes two hits to be killed. This isn't quite the same as a less-powerful weapon but it works with the standard game software.

I'm somewhat busy at the moment with current projects and requests, but would be able help create either a plug-in or the client/server modifications needed at a later time.
At the moment, I would be able to offer some guidance on where to look and what to do as well, if that alternative is viable.

I think I found the clue that you are talking about for the client/server modifications.

Since I am not sure if that info is allowed publicly, please see my PM/IM/DM.

The guidance is on the implementation and on where to search in the code for making changes as at the moment.
And is available on request and not as a clue.

-Zehra

Those who are critical of me, I'll likely be the same of them. ~ZehraThere's always something to remember and it's been a game I love. ~ZehraThe time spent is a time which can never be regained, so it's a time to enjoy. ~ZehraThe decisions we make are the ones we look forward too and the ones we regret. ~ZehraThere's a difference between knowing my name and knowing me, one shows respect to my name and the other is to who I am. ~Zehra